ISC Kosmotras

ISC Kosmotras
Company typeJoint stock company
IndustryCommercial spaceflight
Founded1997
Headquarters
Moscow
,
Russia
Websitewww.kosmotras.ru

The International Space Company Kosmotras or ISC Kosmotras (Russian: ЗАО Международная космическая компания “Космотрас”[1]) is a joint project, between Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, established in 1997. It developed and now operates a commercial expendable launch system using the Dnepr rocket. The Dnepr is a converted decommissioned SS-18 ICBM. ISC Kosmotras conducts Dnepr launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome and Yasny launch base in Dombarovskiy, Russia.[2]

In February 2015, following a year of strained relations as a result of a Russian military intervention into Ukraine, Russia announced that it would sever its "joint program with Ukraine to launch Dnepr rockets".[3] ISC Kosmotras said it would honor its remaining launch contracts.[4] Of the three launches planned for 2015, only one took place. As of 2016, it appears ISC Kosmotras no longer has customers, and thus whether the company is operational or not is uncertain.

In May 2017, ISC Kosmotras formed a joint venture with Glavkosmos named GK Launch Services, which aims to conduct commercial rideshare launches using the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle.[5][6] The company conducted its first fully-commercial launch on 22 March 2021.[7]

  1. ^ Can be confused with company Kosmotrans (Russian: ФГУП НПФ КОСМОТРАНС) working in Baikonur
  2. ^ "On Dnepr LV Next Launch". ISC Kosmotras. Archived from the original on 2007-06-08.
  3. ^ Messier, Doug (6 February 2015). "Russia Severing Ties With Ukraine on Dnepr, Zenit Launch Programs". Parabolic Arc. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ^ Clark, Stephen (6 February 2015). "Customers assured of Dnepr rocket's near-term availability". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Glavkosmos and Kosmotras join efforts for launch services promotion". Glavkosmos. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Soyuz-2 LV". GK Launch Services. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  7. ^ Park, Si-soo (22 March 2021). "Soyuz launch marks first full-commercial mission of Russia's GK Launch Services". SpaceNews. Retrieved 24 March 2021.